BA (Hons) Illustration

Crash! Bang! Pow! ...Welcome to Illustration!

Yes, illustration - the art of communicating ideas, telling stories and expressing themes visually; a progressive and eclectic applied art form, with real purpose! At UEL we strive to train our illustration students to be as dynamic and multi directional as possible, becoming confident, problem solving professional’s hell bent on pushing their work over the cutting edge!

If you enjoy creating images, making beautiful objects, inventing stories and working alongside friendly and like-minded people, then this is the course for you. From designing book jackets, record sleeves and editorial work through to moving image, printmaking and graphic novels, the illustration BA is a fast-paced, high-octane ride to industry professionalism!

The course has a sizzling and distinct flavour unbound by the conventions of industry. We encourage our students to explore each and every type of brief and solve them using the processes and technology of yesterday, today and tomorrow, all whilst on the hunt for their own creative voice and unique visual language.

A roster of highly acclaimed professional illustrators, designers, filmmakers and animators will guide you through this process using UEL's superb workshops, some of the most cutting edge in Europe! You will gain access to robot arms, 3D printers, 16mm film labs, bronze casting, UX and UI workshops, mac labs, printmaking rooms, black and white darkroom, everything one could possibly need to pioneer the way ahead.

So cast of your moorings and set sail for a creative future with the illustration BA - a personal and professional voyage of discovery, visual clarity and relentless creative joy, ahoy!

This exciting and stimulating course will give you a practical foundation in all the varied activities within the hugely diverse world of graphic arts.

The course is underpinned by drawing and we've structured it around a series of projects that address both the practical issues that you may encounter as a professional but also the broader cultural or social-economic world that you will be moving into. 

You'll be exposed to a wide range of techniques, both direct and indirect, digital and analogue, from printmaking, painting, drawing, collage, object making, book-making, publishing and graphic novels.

This allows a more adaptable approach to taking on work and being successful, chiming with the requirements of the Creative Industries 4.0, where discipline distinctions become increasingly irrelevant to professional life. 

Through the course you will undertake interdisciplinary collaborations, adapt to taking on work and become successful in the creative industries. You will work alongside our students from Fine Art Technology, Design Interaction, Illustration, Animation and Photography which will give you the skills to gain a fresh perspective and approaches (divergent thinking) giving you edge in the competitive job market, and skills for the fourth industrial age. 

We consistently review our courses to ensure we are up to date with industry changes and requirements from our graduates. As a result, our modules are subject to change. 

• Tawjihi: 60% for Foundation
• 3 x AS Levels: Foundation
• US High School Diploma: GPA 2.0 for Foundation
• US High School Diploma: GPA 3.0 + SAT1 1070 for Direct Entry to Bachelor's
• International Baccalaureate (IB): 25 points with minimum 15 at Higher Level for Direct Entry to Bachelor's
• 3 x A Levels: Direct Entry to Bachelor's

Our illustration graduates progress into a wide variety stimulating jobs. Some become editorial illustrators, working on magazines or designing book covers. Others go into teaching the subject themselves or working for graphic design companies.

A few have even landed jobs as technicians within the University itself. They just can't tear themselves away from UEL's winning atmosphere!

Preparing you for your life beyond university is key for us. Each year, we have an annual 'Detour Ahead' week, when leading industry figures visit us to offer invaluable insight and advice about further careers and entrepreneurship in the art and design world.

Some of our students grasp their opportunities well before they leave our course. For example, Martin Reznik, one of our outstanding graduates who is now in hot demand as a magazine illustrator, was already designing apps for a company in Los Angeles as a student.

Then there's the story of a group of friends who set up their own company while studying at UEL.

They began as a university society, just wanting to find a way of making their own comics more visible. Now, after graduation, they've grown into a business, Backwards Burd, offering publishing services and giving new illustrators and artists a fresh showcase.

Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal.